User manual ECHO LEAF BLOWER

[. . . ] LEAF BLOWER A Training Manual in the Proper Use of Leaf Blowers Echo, Inc. 400 Oakwood Road Lake Zurich, IL 60047 August 30, 2006 By: Larry Will Page 2 Table of contents Introduction The origin of the leaf blower Leaf blower use How serious is the leaf blower problem Leaf blower concerns Leaf blower ordinances Leaf blower improvements Guidelines for proper leaf blower use Guideline #1. . . Be considerate Guideline #2. . . Observe noise ordinances Guideline #3. . . Run at part throttle Guideline #4. . . Use only one blower at a time Guideline #5. . . Minimize dust Guideline #6. . . Never deliberately blow dust Guideline #7. . . Replace your old leaf blower Summary Page 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 10 11 12 12 12 Page 3 Introduction: A great deal is being said about leaf blowers these days and much of it is negative. That is, a vocal few have done everything they can to control and in some cases ban the leaf blower. Landscapers respond that they would not be able to remain in the lawn care business without a leaf blower, because it would take too long to do their final cleanup. [. . . ] Complaining on the basis of noise alone has not resulted in the kind of support needed to result in blower ban legislation as anti-blower activists had hoped. They had to expand their argument from a mere noise complaint, which is only a harmless irritation, to a potential health hazard. The result is their focusing on engine exhaust emission and the generation of dust. Intuitively, after listening to their argument, people tend to believe that blowers might be hazardous to your health, which helps their case. Of course, this has no foundation in fact, as the CARB report and others have indicated. Emissions have been reduced up to 90% to meet new stringent government Standards. Comparing actual emissions from a car to a leaf blower over the course of time, automobiles are considerably worse than leaf blowers. Most households with one automobile run a tank of gasoline per week through a car (18 gallons on average) while a leaf blower's fuel consumption is measured in ounces per week, per household. Test results show that dust is insignificant compared to other common sources as was proven by the University of California study for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District mentioned earlier in this pamphlet. There have been many efforts to place a "black cloud" over leaf blowers. Supporters of this view are truly disturbed by the seemingly loud; mostly irritating sounds generated by blowers and they feel compelled to do something about it. In their zeal, they are using every argument possible to paint the blower as an evil and unnecessary landscaping tool. Often they find someone that said something unflattering about the blower and then they quote this person as if what he said was fact. Although their argument is mostly anecdotal and unsubstantiated, this type of propaganda serves to reinforce those that are considering banning leaf blowers in other communities. You can find comments such as these on several web pages compiled and financed by dedicated and determined anti-leaf blower activists. Leaf Blower Ordinances: It should be pointed out that there really is no reason to create an ordinance to control blowers since by attrition; excessively noisy blowers will eventually disappear. However, since this argument is often not accepted, one should consider the ramifications of introducing a leaf blower noise ordinance. To begin with, the police will be expected to enforce this unenforceable law. In fact, where there is a ban such as in Los Angeles, many would rather risk paying the fine than have to use a time consuming and labor intensive broom or rake. In most cities, an ordinance banning blowers has changed law-abiding citizens into clever violators. Most important, banning is not the answer! Page 7 If the ordinance is volume or sound magnitude limiting, sound meter readings turn out to be unreliable when taken by an untrained individual, which leads to disputes. Catching violators usually depends on receiving complaints and by the time the police arrive, the violator is nowhere to be found. Should the police respond to a noise complaint or a domestic disturbance? [. . . ] Understand that there are times when the blower simply should not be used. The job should be performed at a time when no one is around or when the prevailing wind is in a favorable direction. To minimize the generation of dust, hold the nozzle above the ground and at a distance from the debris such that the airflow at the ground is only sufficient to move the material you want moved. In dusty areas and when using larger blowers, the nozzle must be held even higher above the ground with an aiming point farther away from the operator. [. . . ]